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What are Dental Implants?
Provided by Colgate
What Are Dental Implants?
Dental implants are metal posts or frames that are surgically positioned
into the jawbone beneath your gums. Once in place, they allow your dentist
to mount replacement teeth onto them.
How do Dental Implants Work?
Because implants fuse to your jawbone, they provide stable support for artificial
teeth. dentures and bridges mounted to implants won't slip or shift in your
mouth-an especially important benefit when eating and speaking. This secure
fit helps the dentures and bridges - as well as individual crowns placed
over implants - feel more natural than conventional bridges or dentures.
For some people, ordinary bridges and dentures are simply not comfortable
or even possible, due to sore spots, poor ridges or gagging. In addition, ordinary
bridges must be attached to teeth on either side of the space left by the missing
tooth. An advantage of implants is that no adjacent teeth need to be prepared
or ground down to hold your new replacement tooth/teeth in place.
To receive implants, you need to have healthy gums and adequate bone to support
the implant. You must also commit to keeping these structures healthy. Meticulous
oral hygiene and regular dental visits are critical to the long-term success
of dental implants.
The American Dental Association considers two types of implants to be safe.
They are:
- Endosteal implants - these are surgically implanted directly into the jawbone.
Once the surrounding gum tissue has healed, a second surgery is needed
to connect a post to the original implant. Finally, an artificial tooth (or
teeth) is attached to the post-individually, or grouped on a bridge or denture.
- Subperiosteal implants - these consist of a metal frame that is fitted
onto the jawbone just below the gum tissue. As the gums heal, the frame becomes
fixed to the jawbone. Posts, which are attached to the frame, protrude
through the gums. As with endosteal implants, artificial teethre then mounted
to the posts.
How Long do Dental Implants Last?
Implants generally last 10-20 years, depending on the location of the implant
and patient compliance with oral hygiene and dental visits. Because molars
receive more stress and wear and tear, these implants typically do not last
as long as implants located at the front of your mouth.
| Dental Implants |
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| Posts are surgically placed below the gums. |
Artificial teeth, grouped on a bridge, are mounted to the posts. |
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| Implants offer a very stable and secure fit. |
Implants serve as a base for single replacement teeth. |
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